US Energy Secretary Signals Strait of Hormuz Could Reopen Before Full Demining, Warns Iran Oil Shut-ins Carry Severe Market Risks

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has signaled that the Strait of Hormuz could resume limited shipping operations without requiring complete removal of naval mines Iran placed along the waterway, a development that could significantly accelerate the restoration of a corridor through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas once flowed.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Three Seas Summit and Business Forum in Dubrovnik, Wright stated that only a navigable pathway needs clearing for vessels to move in and out. "You just need a pathway for ships to be moved in and out," he said, suggesting a restart could occur far sooner than the full demining timeline. Pentagon officials told the Washington Post during a classified Congressional briefing last week that completely clearing the strait could take up to six months. Iran has claimed it laid mines along the most frequently used routes of the narrow waterway, which has been effectively closed since February 28, following the US and Israel's military operations against the Islamic Republic.

Wright also warned that prolonged Iranian oil production shut-ins could carry severe consequences for global energy markets. The Energy Secretary's comments come as international observers monitor whether diplomatic or military developments might allow for a partial reopening of the critical shipping lane. The strait's closure has raised concerns about supply disruptions and elevated energy price volatility, with markets closely tracking any signals regarding its operational status. The gap between Wright's optimistic timeline and the Pentagon's six-month estimate for full clearance reflects ongoing uncertainty about both the technical challenges of demining and the political calculations surrounding any negotiated or unilateral reopening of the passage.